Editor’s note: This article was authored in collaboration with 1Berkshire’s Economic Development team.
It goes without saying that the pandemic economy has been chaotic and challenging for workers and employers alike. From massive layoffs to labor shortages, the last 19 months have been anything but easy. For women, the COVID economy has been particularly staggering: between February and April of 2020, women lost 12.1 million jobs, according to the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC). By the release of the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ jobs report in September of last year, only about half of those jobs had returned. In their “A Year of Strength & Loss” report released in March, the NWLC stated that more than 2.3 million women left the workforce between February 2020 and February 2021, resulting in their lowest labor participation rate (57 percent) since 1988.
A Forbes column published earlier this year expressed hope that the post-COVID economic recovery would follow that of the Great Recession of 2008-2009. The post-Great Recession recovery saw businesses owned by women and people of color add jobs (1.8 million), while businesses owned by white males (800,000) and white males and females (1.6) million lost jobs. It’s still much too early to draw conclusions about how the post-COVID recovery will play out, but early signs are encouraging. Data compiled for The Washington Post by LinkedIn found that the share of female entrepreneurs (defined as female members who had changed their title to “founder” during the pandemic) grew at a rate double its pre-pandemic average from March to November of 2020.
Closer to home, women are also well represented in entrepreneurship. The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network (MSBDC), hosted by the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, provides the tools and guidance entrepreneurs need to become successful in today’s challenging economic climate. According to Keith Girouard, Regional Director for the MSBDC’s Berkshire Center, historically the center has seen a relatively even split between men and women using their services. However, over the last two years, since October of 2019, “more women than men have sought our services, with a split being 53 percent women and 47 percent men.”
This is higher than the statewide numbers where, from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020, women made up almost 49 percent of clients served statewide (a ten-year high, and nearly a 3 percent increase over the previous year). Girouard notes that most of their female clients are already operating businesses, and are seeking specialized assistance with management, marketing, and financing.
Another initiative offering support for entrepreneurs here in the Berkshires is Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll), which is committed to accelerating economic and social impact through inclusive entrepreneurship. Since it arrived in theBerkshires in 2019, EforAll has served four cohorts of entrepreneurs through its accelerator program, and numerous others through pitch competitions and training sessions. EforAll Berkshire County’s Executive Director, Deborah Gallant, estimates that approximately 70 percent of entrepreneurs participating in accelerator cohorts have been female. Deborah believes that the pandemic may have motivated women to seek entrepreneurial opportunities to have greater control over their schedules. She notes that several of the participants in the current cohort (of which 11 of 14 participants are women) have jobs, but the pandemic caused them to weigh “what they were spending their time doing and what they were being paid for, and they very much wanted the opportunity to make their own choices and hours.” Deborah believes that this is a great time to start a business, and to take advantage of opportunities to get help. “I think there’s this myth everywhere about being super independent and doing it yourself,” she says. “There’s no prize for doing it alone, so why not accept help from others?” Community and collaboration were common refrains among other female entrepreneurs we spoke with as well, and in some cases, critical during the pandemic.
Truc Nguyen took over Truc’s Orient Express restaurant in West Stockbridge, a decades-old family business, shortly before the pandemic, to continue her parents’ work and keep serving the loyal customer base. “Our customers return each year to celebrate their milestones with us. We had become a part of their extended family, just as much as our customers had become part of ours.” During the pandemic, when the restaurant pivoted to take-out, their loyal customers were there to support them, as were new customers who had recently moved to the area. Truc is happy to share her experience with new entrepreneurs and urges them to get to know successful business owners in the area. “Don’t be afraid to ask and seek guidance from these leaders,” she says. “Build those relationships, tap into these experiences as they will certainly sustain and help carry you through these challenging times.”
Mindy Miraglia began dreaming of building Berkshire Camino after walking the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage walk in Spain. Mindy was interested in being her own boss, saying it was important to her “to create a lifestyle that allows more control over the direction of my time and energy.” She initially planned to launch her business with several lodging sites and guide customers on multi-day journeys through the Berkshires. As the pandemic began, this plan no longer seemed viable. Instead, she launched an experiential business that offers locally-curated guided walks and hikes in the Berkshires, inviting guests to slow down and savor their journey. Like Deborah, Mindy urges entrepreneurs to seek help. “I’ve been so supported by local organizations, including 1Berkshire, EforAll, and the Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire, which are providing education, mentors, coaches, and an entrepreneurial community despite the pandemic. We don’t have to go it alone.”
Colleen Taylor, with her brother, bought the Freight Yard Pub in North Adams 30 years ago. She has since owned several restaurants in the Berkshires. She currently operates the Freight Yard, Trail House Kitchen & Bar, and the Craft Food Barn. From navigating the obstacles that come with opening restaurants, Colleen has learned “if there’s a will, there’s a way.” Most importantly, she has learned “it is the employees that matter the most in our business.” It is important to ensure that they are doing well, especially during the pandemic, when shortages of staff and product continue to make life difficult for restaurant owners. Colleen’s advice to entrepreneurs is to be passionate about what they’re doing and to have a plan but be flexible. “Bumps are going to be there; they just need to be very clear on where they want to end up.”
Rachel Hailey wanted to start a business of her own that would make a difference in outdoor recreation and also give her certain lifestyle benefits — to allow her more flexibility, ensure time with her daughter, and show her daughter what a woman can do. She launched Rachel Hailey & Associates Consulting, which offers diversity, equity, and inclusion services for the outdoor recreation industry. In the process, she learned it is important to “Just START.” She has observed that female entrepreneurs often fall into the “perfection trap,” which prevents them from starting. “Strive for excellence, not perfection!” she says. The growth in use of visual communication platforms brought on by the pandemic has been beneficial to Rachel’s business, allowing her to offer training and services to clients across the United States and beyond. Rachel also advises new entrepreneurs to “Connect, connect, connect. The world is full of interesting, talented, and driven people who ultimately want to be of service to another. Find these people!” and “Don’t be afraid to bust the glass ceiling!”
At 1Berkshire, October is Women in Business Month, which celebrates women who are striving, leading, and working hard to make an impact and realize their dreams. If you’re thinking about starting a business, contact the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center for free expert business advice and educational programs, reach out to EforAll for their pitch competitions and business accelerator, or connect with 1Berkshire for a business consultation or to attend a monthly Entrepreneurial Meetup. These programs and others exist to support you in starting, pivoting, or growing your business. As so many of these female entrepreneurs said, you don’t have to do it alone.
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